For my intensive trip we went to Inwood park located in Manhattan, by the border of the Bronx. There we met Ranger Gerry and he taught us all about the park, species and survival in wild life. He even introduced us to his Corn snake that he rescued named Pumpkin. His name is Pumpkin because of his bright orange and peach colored skin and was would have been endangered if he was left in the wild because since his skin is so brightly colored, large birds could easily spot and attack him. Pumpkin was about three feet long and he was very shy. I got the opportunity to hold him, he was smooth was warm. While I was holding him he remained calm and kept his body pretty straight which is a good thing because when snakes have their body in an "S" shape it most likely means they are uncomforable and ready to attack.
Corn snakes (also known as "Red rat snakes" or "Scarlet racers") can be found all throughout the Southeast and Central of the United States and can be identified by their brownish-red skin and their orange and red saddles; they can also be either yellow or gray and on their stomachs they often have rows of black and white marks that look like a checkerboard pattern. They usually grow up to 3 feet or sometimes 6 feet and can often be found in fields, trees, and farms. They are wild snakes but they are popular pets. Corn snakes feed on rodents and instead of eating everyday they actually feed every few days. The young hatchlings feed on smaller animals such as tree frogs and lizards as opposed to the adult corn snakes who feed on larger prey such as bats, birds, and mice. Corn snakes are constrictors so they would bite into their prey in order to get a good grip on it then they tightly wrap itself around their victim to suffocate their prey and swallow it whole, although sometimes they would would just eat the smaller prey alive. Their life span is usually from 6-8 years although they can live up to 23 years old. Corn snakes are harmless, they are not poisonous but sometimes people mistake them for the venomous Copperhead snake and they often get killed for it. They are not a threatened or endangered species although they are rare and secretive, but they are listed as a "species of special concern" in Florida due to the fact that they face habitat loss and destruction. They are often caught in the wild and sold as pets since they are so popular to help control rodent populations that may spread disease.
Although the Corn snake is not venomous, there are three species of venomous snakes to be found in New York State. These snakes are known as the Timber Rattle snake, the Massasauga snake, and the Copperhead snake; thankfully they are all uncommon. The Rattle snake is listed as a threatened species and can be found in wide ranges (mainly in the south eastern part of the state). They have cryptic coloration which allows them to easily be concealed although can be identified by their two colored patterns which is usually a yellow phase with black or dark brown crossbands, or a black black phase with a dark cross bands. Their lifespan averages from 16-22 years but sometimes they can reach up to 30 years. Rattle snakes feed on smaller mammals but they will also feed on birds, amphibians, and sometimes even other snakes as well. It's population has been severely reduced due to people killing them for their snakeskin products and pet trade.
The Massasauga snake is listed as an endangered species and is mainly found in only two large wetlands which is located Northeast of Syracuse and Rochester and can be found in moist landscapes, forests, fields, and marshes. They are the smallest of the three venomous snakes found in the New York State. Their height averages from 18-40 inches in length. Their background coloration is gray or brownish gray and their body is marked with a row of large black or dark brown hourglass shaped markings along their back and three rows of smaller dark spots on each side. The Massasauga snake feeds on small mammals such as mice, shrews, and and voles; although their venom is toxic, the species is not generally regarded as a threat to humans.
The Copperhead snake can be mainly be found around the Hudson valley and scattered throughout the Catskills and average from two to three feet. They prefer to live in wooded areas, among rocks and near streams and ponds. Every year in the U.S there are thousands (around 5,000 to 8,000) of documents cases of people injured and many more pets bitten by this snake; many of these injuries often go unreported. The Copperhead snake comes in seven different color variations depending on their location. They are usually very colorful and have an hourglassed chestnut colored band pattern. Their background color from their back to sides are from tan to pink and their heads maintains a Copper color, which gives it it's name. They feed on cicadas, caterpillars, mice, birds, frogs, and lizards.
Both the Rattle and Massasauga snake have rattles at the end of their tails that is made of many hollow scales that have a distant buzz when the snake shakes it's tails (a new one is added every time the snake sheds it's skin which can be about several times a year). Both of these snakes are very thick but the rattle snake reaches up to 6 feet as opposed to the Massasauga snake that grows up to three feet. A Rattle snakes head is much wider than the Massasauga and it has many small scales around the top on it's head as opposed to the Massasauga snake who has 9 larger scales on it's head. The Copperhead snake lack it's rattle but it will vibrate it's tail when it is annoyed; it will also strike without warning. If ever encountered with a snake, the snake will almost always refrain from striking. Bites from a non-poisonous snake are generally inconsequential but bites by a venomous snake is a very serious matter and need immediate medical assistance. The venom in a poisonous snake is used to immobilize their prey and can be fatal to humans if it goes untreated. Luckily, in New York there is no record of human deaths due to rattle snakes within the last seven decades.
Snakes of Manhattan - Lizzy
For my intensive trip we went to Inwood park located in Manhattan, by the border of the Bronx. There we met Ranger Gerry and he taught us all about the park, species and survival in wild life. He even introduced us to his Corn snake that he rescued named Pumpkin. His name is Pumpkin because of his bright orange and peach colored skin and was would have been endangered if he was left in the wild because since his skin is so brightly colored, large birds could easily spot and attack him. Pumpkin was about three feet long and he was very shy. I got the opportunity to hold him, he was smooth was warm. While I was holding him he remained calm and kept his body pretty straight which is a good thing because when snakes have their body in an "S" shape it most likely means they are uncomforable and ready to attack.
Corn snakes (also known as "Red rat snakes" or "Scarlet racers") can be found all throughout the Southeast and Central of the United States and can be identified by their brownish-red skin and their orange and red saddles; they can also be either yellow or gray and on their stomachs they often have rows of black and white marks that look like a checkerboard pattern. They usually grow up to 3 feet or sometimes 6 feet and can often be found in fields, trees, and farms. They are wild snakes but they are popular pets. Corn snakes feed on rodents and instead of eating everyday they actually feed every few days. The young hatchlings feed on smaller animals such as tree frogs and lizards as opposed to the adult corn snakes who feed on larger prey such as bats, birds, and mice. Corn snakes are constrictors so they would bite into their prey in order to get a good grip on it then they tightly wrap itself around their victim to suffocate their prey and swallow it whole, although sometimes they would would just eat the smaller prey alive. Their life span is usually from 6-8 years although they can live up to 23 years old. Corn snakes are harmless, they are not poisonous but sometimes people mistake them for the venomous Copperhead snake and they often get killed for it. They are not a threatened or endangered species although they are rare and secretive, but they are listed as a "species of special concern" in Florida due to the fact that they face habitat loss and destruction. They are often caught in the wild and sold as pets since they are so popular to help control rodent populations that may spread disease.
Although the Corn snake is not venomous, there are three species of venomous snakes to be found in New York State. These snakes are known as the Timber Rattle snake, the Massasauga snake, and the Copperhead snake; thankfully they are all uncommon. The Rattle snake is listed as a threatened species and can be found in wide ranges (mainly in the south eastern part of the state). They have cryptic coloration which allows them to easily be concealed although can be identified by their two colored patterns which is usually a yellow phase with black or dark brown crossbands, or a black black phase with a dark cross bands. Their lifespan averages from 16-22 years but sometimes they can reach up to 30 years. Rattle snakes feed on smaller mammals but they will also feed on birds, amphibians, and sometimes even other snakes as well. It's population has been severely reduced due to people killing them for their snakeskin products and pet trade.
The Massasauga snake is listed as an endangered species and is mainly found in only two large wetlands which is located Northeast of Syracuse and Rochester and can be found in moist landscapes, forests, fields, and marshes. They are the smallest of the three venomous snakes found in the New York State. Their height averages from 18-40 inches in length. Their background coloration is gray or brownish gray and their body is marked with a row of large black or dark brown hourglass shaped markings along their back and three rows of smaller dark spots on each side. The Massasauga snake feeds on small mammals such as mice, shrews, and and voles; although their venom is toxic, the species is not generally regarded as a threat to humans.
The Copperhead snake can be mainly be found around the Hudson valley and scattered throughout the Catskills and average from two to three feet. They prefer to live in wooded areas, among rocks and near streams and ponds. Every year in the U.S there are thousands (around 5,000 to 8,000) of documents cases of people injured and many more pets bitten by this snake; many of these injuries often go unreported. The Copperhead snake comes in seven different color variations depending on their location. They are usually very colorful and have an hourglassed chestnut colored band pattern. Their background color from their back to sides are from tan to pink and their heads maintains a Copper color, which gives it it's name. They feed on cicadas, caterpillars, mice, birds, frogs, and lizards.
Both the Rattle and Massasauga snake have rattles at the end of their tails that is made of many hollow scales that have a distant buzz when the snake shakes it's tails (a new one is added every time the snake sheds it's skin which can be about several times a year). Both of these snakes are very thick but the rattle snake reaches up to 6 feet as opposed to the Massasauga snake that grows up to three feet. A Rattle snakes head is much wider than the Massasauga and it has many small scales around the top on it's head as opposed to the Massasauga snake who has 9 larger scales on it's head. The Copperhead snake lack it's rattle but it will vibrate it's tail when it is annoyed; it will also strike without warning. If ever encountered with a snake, the snake will almost always refrain from striking. Bites from a non-poisonous snake are generally inconsequential but bites by a venomous snake is a very serious matter and need immediate medical assistance. The venom in a poisonous snake is used to immobilize their prey and can be fatal to humans if it goes untreated. Luckily, in New York there is no record of human deaths due to rattle snakes within the last seven decades.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_snake
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Cornsnake.cfm
http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/snakes/snakes.htm
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7147.html
http://www.lpzoo.org/animals/factsheet/eastern-massasauga-rattlesnake
http://www.copperhead-snake.com/
http://www.livescience.com/43641-copperhead-snake.html